George Platt Lynes is known as one of the most successful fashion photographers of the 1930s and 40s, having worked for prestigious publications such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, and Town & Country. However, it is his private passion for photographing male nudes that has garnered more attention in recent years.
Parallel to his public career, George Platt Lynes worked just as hard on his private passion — photographing nude men. However, during that era, photographs of male genitalia were illegal, which meant all male nude photography could be described as secret vintage male nudes. Despite this, most physique photographers sold nude photographs. But not George. His were truly secret and not for sale, though sometimes shared with trusted friends.
It wasn’t until he knew he was dying that George Platt Lynes gifted much of his collection of male nudes to the Kinsey Institute. He wanted to ensure that one day, when circumstances improved, people would be able to enjoy his secret vintage male nudes.
The collection includes photographs of a variety of men, including friends, friends of friends, professional models, and down-on-their-luck actors. One such actor was Yul Brynner, who modeled nude for George Platt Lynes before becoming one of the world’s most recognizable film stars.
Some of George’s most popular photos are of 20-year-old gymnasts Charles ‘Tex’ Smutney and Charles ‘Buddy’ Stanley III. Interestingly, when George donated many of his photos to the Kinsey Institute, Dr. Kinsey wondered how the models avoided becoming sexually aroused while shooting. George’s longtime lover, novelist Glenway Wescott, disclosed in his memoirs that they did get erections, but off-camera.
Despite the taboo nature of his work, George Platt Lynes’ photographs have become a valuable historical record of a time when male nudes were strictly taboo. While some of the models, such as Yul Brynner, went on to achieve fame in other fields, others like Tex Smutney and Buddy Stanley III remain obscure. However, their images continue to captivate and fascinate viewers, providing a window into a hidden world of secret vintage male nudes.